Sulley Muntari

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Personal information
Sulley Muntari
Full name	Sulley Ali Muntari
Date of birth	27 August 1984
Place of birth	Konongo, Ghana
Height	180cm
Position	midfielder
Club information
Current club	Udinese
Professional clubs*
Years	Club	Apps (goals)
2001-02 2002-	Liberty Professionals Udinese	97 (5)
National team**
2002-	Ghana	23 (6)
* Professional club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 27 June 2006. ** National team caps and goals correct as of 27 June 2006.

Sulley Ali Muntari (born August 27, 1984) is a Ghanaian international footballer who plays for Udinese in Italy. He is an all-action box-to-box physical and skillful Left Central Midfielder. He has managed 23 caps and 6 goals for Ghana, as of November 2006. He is an outstanding midfielder described by Football Italia as "showing himself to possess the touch of Kaká and the combativeness of Edgar Davids, he is definitely a player to keep a close eye on." On 31st of August 2005 at the end of the transfer window, Udinese announced they rejected a bid from Manchester United for the player. Ironically, United had the chance to buy Muntari as a youngster in 2001, but wouldn't pay the £1 million pound asking price. As a result, Udinese signed Muntari and built a strong squad which is consistently finishing in the top 10 of Serie A. Muntari was part of the Ghana starting eleven, who were defeated 2-0 by Italy in their opening World Cup fixture.

Muntari was inspirational for Ghana in their match against the Czech Republic in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, scoring in a 2-0 victory, with Asamoah Gyan getting the other. He was suspended for the game against the United States for having received two yellow cards in his opening games.

[edit] Transfer desire

In an interview with Sky Sports News, Muntari stated that he would like a move to the English Premier League, preferably with Manchester United this summer, as he said "They are one of the best teams in Europe." He also said he felt "lost" after talking to compatriot Michael Essien about Premiership life[1]. However, more recently, Muntari has been reported on Sky Sports News as saying Bolton are keen on his signature, along with a host of other teams.[2]

In December 2006 it was reported that he had been linked with a move to English Premiership club Portsmouth in the January transfer window. Reportedly, the south coast club had made a £10 million bid for the midfielder in the summer, but had their bid rejected. Now, it seems, his club are willing to sell and so Portsmouth are back in the running to sign him.

Muntari has also been linked with a £12 million move to Italian giants AC Milan in the January transfer window, as well as a number of other clubs, starting speculation that there is going to be a bidding war for his services.

[edit] Honors and awards

FIFA World Youth Championship runner-up: 2001

[edit] External links

Fifa 2006 World Cup Profile
Ghana Football Association - official website
Ghanaweb Football Forum - Official Fan Forum
Muntari linked with Portsmouth
Muntari linked with a move to AC Milan

Udinese Calcio - Current Squad

	Ghana squad - 2006 FIFA World Cup
1 Adjei \| 2 Sarpei \| 3 Gyan \| 4 Kuffour \| 5 Mensah \| 6 Pappoe \| 7 Shilla \| 8 Essien \| 9 Boateng \| 10 Appiah \| 11 Muntari \| 12 Tachie‑Mensah \| 13 Mohamed \| 14 Amoah \| 15 Pantsil \| 16 Owu \| 17 Quaye \| 18 E. Addo \| 19 Pimpong \| 20 O. Addo \| 21 Issah \| 22 Kingston \| 23 Dramani \| Coach: Dujković